Fertilizer-distributer.



J. H. BLOOM. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3,19OB.

001/0 demon F0? 5 SHEETS-SHEET1.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Jase 070E J.- H. BLOOM.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLIUATION TILED KAR.-3, 1908. 935,579, Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

new: nun spa. mm. mum-M. & a.

J. H. BLOOM. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER. APPLIOATION FILED MAILB, 190B.

Patented Sept. '28, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. H. BLOOM. FERTILIZER DISTBIBUTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 190a.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

-5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 J. H. BLOOM. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 190a.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Mum Wot Mm/must;

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. moon, or rnnnron'r, ILLINOIS.

FERTILIZER-DISTRTtBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28, 1909'.

Application filed March a, 1908. Se1'ia11io.419,016.

under frame of the vehicle so that the front wheels can out under the body withoutinterference. n

Another feature resides in certain improvements in the operating means for the conveyer and drum and the provision of novel mechanism for automatically increasing the speed of the conveyer during its return movement. i I

The preferred form of construetaon is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 IS a vlew in elevation of one side of the distributer. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the opposite side. Fig.3 is a bottom plan view, with the running gear of the vehicle removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a similar view but showing the position of the conveyer when the body has been emptied. Fig. 6 is across sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the conveyor operating mechanism with the driven gear wheels removed.- Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view therethrou h. Fig. 9 is a view showing the mechanism or shifting the driving -gear.- Fig. 10 is a detail View of the driven gears. Fig. 11 is a detail cross sectional view substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the driving shaft showing the sprocket wheels and clutches in; section. Fig. 13 is a face view of one of the sprocket wheels. Fig. 14 is a sectional view through one of the clutches. Fig. 15 is a detail sect-ional view through one of the supporting arms. -Fig. 1 6 is a detail perspective view Similar reference numerals designate corof the rock shaft and its crank arms that colit 'ol the reversing movement.

be evident by reference. to Fig. 5.

responding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

,In the embodiment illustrated, a body is employed, comprising side walls 16 mounted onanunder frame which includes a rear axle 17 and a front axle 18, the latter being pivoted in any suitable manner. The bottom of the vehicle is in the form of a conveyor of hingedly connected slats. 19, said conveyor being movably mounted on front and rear sets of rollers 20 jo urnaled :upon the opposite inner sides ofthe side walls 16. These I front and rear sets thus constitute in effect a sectional support for the conveyer. Between the front and rear sets of rollers are located upwardly swinging gates 21 having rollers 22 journaled thereon. the gates being pivoted by suitable devices 23 at their rear ends andhaving their front ends normally resting on a cross shaft 24 provided with sprocketwheels 251 Connecting the ends of theconveyer are sprocket chains 26 that operate on the sprocket wheels and pass around other sprocket wheels 27 mounted on a shaft 28 at the front end of the body, this shaft being transversely adjustable as shown in Fi 2 in order that the slack in the chains may e taken up. Idler rollers 29 are lo cated just in rear ofthe' rear axle 17'.and slightly above the sameythese rollers constituting guides for carrying the conveyer over the top of the axle and bolster, aswill The conveyer atits rear end operates around sprocket wheels 30 secured to a shaft 31 journaled transversely of and at the rear end of the wagon body. The front-end of the eo nveyer carries the usual upstanding wall or apron 31.

With this construction, it will be evident by reference to Fig. 4 that when the apron 31 is in the front end ofthe body; the conveyer will be located longitudinally in said body, but upon its rearward movement, the rear portion of said conveyer will move from the rear set of supporting rollers around the shaft 31, beneath said rear set of rollers, and

veyer will have passed from .the front .set I of rollers and the rear portion of said conveyer moving past the gates, will move over said-front set of rollers, as'shown :in Fig. 5.

Upon the rear en'dnf theboily are located .bra ckets'32 'inwhich is journaled a suitable distributer-drnni 33, and cooperating with "this, drum is a comb ()no end of'the drumshaft 35 carries a sprocket wheel 36,

lzvhile a crank disk37. fastened to the opposite end,- has a crank pin 38. shaft 40,

- joiii'naled upon the under side of the body,

carries-a sprocket wheel 41and :i-sprocket chain42,'passing around the wheel 11, also passes around the sprocket wheel 36, thus forming a driving connection :between the shaft and the drum; Supporting arms I are located on opposite-sides of the vehicle tion -13 is offset as shown at 47, to form a.

. 13 and 14, the sprocket wheel 49 is recessed,-

tions 42.

the sections--13, bear against the ends of the body, and each arm comprises slidably telescoped sections =12 and 43, the sections 12 being provided with yokes 41 journaled on the projecting end of the shaft 10, and the sections 13 being slidably mounted in said sec- Adjusting nuts 45, threaded on pin' on which is jonrn'aled an idler sprocket wheel 48, and another sprocket wheel 49 is loosely journaled on the shaft- 10 within the yoke of each arm. These two sprocket wheels are connected by a sprocket chain 50. As illustrated, particularly in Figs. 12,

and is provided with an internal set of teeth 51. Secured to theshaft with n therecess, is a hub 52 having pro ect1ons 53011 which .are pivoted dogs 51 that cotipe ate with the teeth 51, These dogs are urged toward the teeth by springs The usual ground wheels 56 are mounted on the rear axle 17 and clipped or otherwise secured to said wheels are driving sprocket .wheels 57. the chains being'niovable into and out of engagement with the wheels 57 accordingly as the supporting arms are raised or lowered. This will be evident a comparison of Figs. 1 and To effect the raising and lowering of the supporting arms a rock shaft 58 is employed that ektends transversely of the body, and hassecured to its ends crank arms 59 provided with olfset terminals 60 that operate against the under sides of the arms. Another angularly disposed arm 61 is secured to one end of the rock shaft, and has a link connection 6:2 with a lever 63 arranged atthe front end of the body. By operating this lever therefore, it

will-be evident that the rock shaft will he turned. and consequently the arms 59 swung raised, the offset ends (30 preferably engage behind ribs 64 on the arm sections 12 and thus maintain the arms in elevated positions.

operates, has secured to one end'a disk (1.). which carries external and internal gear wheels 36- a'nd (37, and a reciprocat'ory support .68 mounted on the adjacentpoi'tion of thevehiclebody has joui'i aled thereon, a driving gear wheel '69,located between the mesh with either or-to an intermediate position out of mesh with both. A spring (38 mounted adjacent-to. theinner end of the support 68 forces-said support rearwardlv and normally urges-the gear wheel 69 into engagement with the gear 67. Fastengal to the driving gear 69 is a ratchet wheel 70, lo-' rated on the inner side of the disk (15/. it

lever 71, is fulcruined at one end, and as shown at 72 upon the vehicle body, and has aslot 73 in its other. end in which the crank 'pin 38 of the distributing drum operates. This lever 11 furthermorehas a longitudinal 'back and forth, operating the dogs. which in turn, will operate the driving gear (39. If

the driving gear is in mesh with the larger or internal gear 66, the conveyer will be. moved rearwardly at one speed, but if said driving gear ()9 is in mesh with the smaller gear. the return movement of the conveyor will take place at a higher rate of speed than the feeding movement. Again when .the driving gear is out of mesh with both the internal and external gears, then the conveyor willbe' at a standstill;

In order to effect the above described drivenfgears 66 and 67 being shiftable into shifting operations of the driving gear. the

following mechanism is preferably employed. A lever 18 is fulcrumed on the side of the vehicle body, preferably the opposite side to that-which carries the lever (33. and a rod 79, pivoted on the lever; is pivoted to a link 80, which is connected to the reciprocating support 68; Thus upon the operation of the lever, the gear will be shifted.

Means are also provided for effecting the automatic shifting movement of the gear. 'lo'this end, a rock shaft 81 is journaled on the lower portion of the body, and has an outer crank arm 82 connected to the front, ,end of the link 80 which end is preferably downturned, as shown, in Fig. 9. The inner endof this rock shaft has another crank arm 33, whi h is bent upwardly from the journal and said conveyer, being provided with oppositely extending hooks 8-1, arranged to :haft 81 and inwardly, and has a. part- 10-- v rated below the conveyor, as shown in Figs. 1. .to raise or lower thesupporting arm. 11 hen engage the crank arm 83. The mechanism is so arranged that upon the rearward movement of the conveyer, when the front hook .84 strikes the. upwardly bent part of crank -arm 83,;the part83 will be rocked rearwardl v, thereby rocking the part8? outside of the .wagon bodyv upwardly and rearrd-ly and through its connection with S 69 from the internal driven gear 66, whereupon'the spring (58zwill carry the gear (35) into mesh \vitlrthe; external driven gear 67 so that the movement of the conveyer is automatically reversed. On the other hand, when the convcyer has-completely returned and the rear hook strikes the crank arm the driving gear 69 will be carried out of mesh with the driven gear 67 to an intermcdiate positioitout of mesh with both gears so that the travel of the conveyer will be automatically stopped. Means are also provided for automatically increasing 'the speed of the driving gear (5%) during the return movement of the conveyer and for this purpose, a rod 85 connects the lever 78 and the carrier for the dog 76,. It will thus be evident that when the driving gear ('39 is shifted out of mesh with the driven gear ()6 and into mesh with the driven gear (37, the lever 78 being moved, willcause the carrier 75 to shift away to a position fartheraway from the fulcrum T2 of the lever 71. The dogs It therefore will have-a greater amount of movement. ()n the other hand, on the reverse shifting action of the driving gear' -69, said carrier 75 will be moved toward the fulcrum, and thusthe amount of movement of the dogs will be less, with a corresponding amount of movement of the driving gear.

There are a number of advantages for this structure as shown. In the first place, the mechanism is comparatively simple, and yet sufficient driving power is secured for operating'the conveyor and the drum, regardless of the Weight of the load. This driving mechanisnris connected with both of the rear wheels, but because of the clutches, the said wheels are permitted to run at ditt'erent rates of speed in making turns and the like. The mechanism may be stopped whenever desired, but when thrown into operation, it will automatically operate to completely discharge the load, and return the' con'vever without further attention. The said cbnveyer is so arranged that the rear portion is carried above the under frame atthe'front portion of the body, so that the front axle and wheels can turn and out under the body without interference.

From the foregoing, it is thought. that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will. be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will bennderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction. may be resorted towithout departing from the splrlt or sacrificing any of the advantages of-the invention;

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle fertilizer distributor, the

combination. of a vehicle body, wheels supporting the same, a rotary distributing drum mounted on the body, a shaft on the body, a driving connection between the shaft and drum, driving sprockets on the wheels,loosc sprockets on the ends of the shaft. clutches for connecting the said sprockets with the shaft, swinging supporting arms pivoted on the shaft, sprockets on the free ends of the arms, sprocket chains passingaround the last-mentioned sprockets and the said loose sprockets and arranged to mesh with the driving sprockets carried by the said wheels whereby the shaft will be driven simultane-' ously by the wheels during forward travel or by the faster rotating wheel during turning' of the vehiclc, and means for swinging the arms to engage or disengage the sprocket chains with or from the driving sprockets.

2. In mechanism of the character -described, the combination with a rotary distributing drum, of a shaft geared thereto,

swinging supporting arms journaled on and carried by the shaft, sprocket wheels having clutch connections with the opposite ends of the shaft, other sprocket wheels carried by the arms, sprocket chains mounted on the wheels. driving sprocket wheels, and means for swinging the arms to carry the chains into and out of engagement with the driving sprocket wheels.

3. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a conveyor operable in opposite directions, of a driving device.-

means interposed between the driving device and conveyer for operating the same from the 'ftllltltl' at ditt'erent rates of speed in opposite directions, and means for also altering the speed of the driving device-when the direction of movement of the conveyer is reversed.

I". In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with aconveycr operable in opposite directions, of a driving device, means interposed between the driV mg device and conveyer -for transmitting motion from the former to the latter and causing the return movement of the convcyer at a greater rate of speed than the delivery movement, and means for also in creasing the speed of the driving device when the direction of movement of the coa erable in opposite directions, of a -.plu;

. Y shifting of the' driving device and the chmige of speed of the same.

'10 device shiftable from one driven device to the other, means forautomat-ically varying the speed of the (lllVlllgt'lBVlCQ when 1t--1s shifted, and common -means effecting the 7. In mechanism of the character set forth,

the combination witha conveyer operablein opposite directions .of a plurality of driven gears connect-ed to the conve'yer, a driving '20. gear shiftable from one to the other of the driven gears, meansfor operating the dri ving gear, and means forsimultaneonsly slutting said driving gear and vary1ng ltsspeed dnringtheshifting operat on.

i 8. In mechanism of the character set forth,

the combinationwith a conveyer operable in opposite directions, ofa plurality of driven gears'connected to the conveyer, a drlvlng gear shift'able from one to the otherof-the gears, means for operating the driving gear,

. a. lever, and means operated-by said lever for shifting ,thefdriving gear and'varymg its speed.

1 .9, In mechanism of the-character set forth,

' thecombination with a. conveyer operable in opposite directions, of a 'plurality of driven I gears connected to the conveyer, a driving -gearshiftable from one to the other of the driven gears, fa ratchet, Wheel connected to.

J the driving gear, dogs. movable'inopposite directions-and operating on theratchet wheel, and common means for shifting the driving gear and varying the throw ofthe' dogs.

10.-In niechanism 0f the character set forth, the combination with a conveyer operable in opposite directions, ofainternal and external'driven gears connected to'the conveyer, a driving gear shiftable from one to the other of'the drivengears, a ratchet wheel connected to the driving-gear, a lever, means for swinging the lever, a. carrier shiftabl'ej toward and from the fnlcru'm of the lever, dogs pivoted on the carrier and operating onthe ratchet wheel, a lever, and connections between the lever-,the driving gear and the carrier .for" simultaneously effecting the movement of the carrier and of the driving '-gear..- v j i 1 '11.,In mechanism ofthe character set? 1 forth, the combinationwwith a-conveyer operable in" opposite directions, of: driven "gear-s connected therewith, a-drivinggear shiitablefrom one driven gea-rfto theothena controller',' a connection between the controller and shiftable gear, a'variable speed device for rotating the driving gear, aconnection between the device and controller, an d' means for automatically shifting the gear inde pendently of the controller and by the'conveyer when the latter reaches the end of its movement in one direction-and operating throughsaid connections and controllerfor changing the variable speed device to increase the speed of rotationof the driving gear.

12. In mechanism of the character set forth. the combination with a c'onveye'r operable in opposite directions, of driven gears connected therewith, a driving .gear shift-. 0-

able fromone driven gearto the other, a controller. a connection between-the controller and shiftable gear, a-variable speeddevice for rotating the driving gear, a connection between the device and controller, means for automatically shifting the. gear inde- "pendently of the controller and byfthe conveyer when the latter reaches the end of its 'movementin one direction and operating through the connections and controllergfor. changing the variable speed device -to increase the speed of rotation of the driving gear, and'means forythrowing' the driving gear to-a position out, of engagementwith either ofthe driven gears when the conveyer reaches the end of its return movement.

.' ,13. In mechanism of .the. character set forth, the, combination with a'conveyer op era ble-in opposite directions, of drive'n gears connected-to the conveyer," a shiftable driv 1 mg gear movable intoengag'ement with either of'thje driven gears,;means for'rotating the driving gear, a; 'reciprocatory sup port on which the driving gear is journaled,

a rock shaft.havi-nglspae'ed crankjarms, a'.1; 05

link connected to one of the crankqarms' and I to the support, the-other arm being located in the path of movementof thex'conveyer and-operated thereby inf-opposite directions,

and a'lever connected to the link .-for marin ally shifting'the driving gear/ 14'. In mechanism'of the character. set

forth, the combination witha vehiclebody,

of a conveyer movable'lin: opposite-directions;

therein, meansfor operating the conveyer in opposite. directions, a"" 'supp0,rt .for. the con; 'veyer, and means for directing one-portion "cf the'conveyer on to the portion ofthe sup port normally occupied by anotheri'portion of the conveyer andin anopposite' direction I when said other? portion moves. therefrom in one direction. t j '15. In mechanism ofithe characterset forth, theconibination with a vehicle body,

-.of a conveyer movable in" opposite directions therein, means for operating -.the conveyer in opposite directions, a suppott ior' the con v'eyer {arranged longitudinally within. the; body, and means for-directing'the.rear 'por- 'tionof the conveverinits forward direction 9 upon the front section, the front portion of the conveyer moving rearwardly to a position upon the rear section of the support, and means for moving the conveyer.

17. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a vehicle body,

of a support extending longitudinally therein and comprising sections, a conveyer operating upon the support, one portion of the conveyer being movable from one of the sections of the support beneath the same and to a position upon the other section, a gate located between the sections and permitting the movement of the conveyer therebetween, and means for moving the conveyer;

18. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle body, of a support extending longitudinally therein and comprising front and rear sections, a conveyer operating upon the support, the rear portion of the conveyer being movable from the rear section, beneath the same and to a position upon as front section, the front portion of the conveyer moving to a position upon the rear section of the support, a swinging gate located between the adjacent sections and swinging upwardly to permit. the movement of-the rear portion of the conveyer on to the front section of the] .support, and means for operating the convcycr.

19. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle body,

of a conveyer movable in opposite directions therein, means for operating the conveyer in opposite directions, a support for the conveyer comprising a series of rollers arranged within the vbody, means for directing one portion of the conveyer beneath a portion of the support and forwardly on to and along another portion of the support, when another portion of the conveyer leaves said latter portion of the support, and means for operating the conveyer in opposite directions.

20. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle body, of front and. rear sets of rollers located therein, upwardly swinging gates pivoted to the body between the front and rear sets of rollers and having rollers 'journaled thereon, a conveyer operating upon the upper sides of the rollers, the rear portion of said conveyer moving beneath the rear set of rollers past the gates and onto the front set of rollers when the front portion of the conveyer moves on to the rear set of rollers, and means for moving the conveyer 1n opposite directions. i

21. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination wlth a vehicle body,

of asupport extending longitudinally therein and comprising front and rear sections, a

conveyer operating on the support, the rear' JOSEPH H. BLOOM.

Witnesses Ronnn'r BICKENBACH, E.'TOELLE. 

